Bizarre Food Etiquette Rules From Around The Globe That Everyone Should Know

You’ve just spent a perfect day exploring Japan on your vacation, and now it’s time for a delicious meal. Your dish is set down before you, so you eagerly pick up your chopsticks and get ready to dig in. In your excitement, though, you unwittingly raise the chopsticks in the air – and suddenly there’s a stony silence and glares. People look at you, appalled, and you realize you’ve done something wrong. But what? This sort of nightmare situation can come about all too easily. Different cultures have their specific quirks, and if you don’t know about them you can look foolish or even rude. So, read on to find out what your mistake was – plus many other blunders to avoid around the world.

40. Flip out

If you ever find yourself frying a fish in China, be sure to refrain from turning your meal-to-be over in the pan. You might think that’s the only way to ensure it’s evenly cooked, but the Chinese consider it unlucky. That’s because it’s associated with the notion of a fishing vessel tipping over.

39. A friendly drink

If somebody in Russia ever asks if you want a drink, you’d better say yes. If you don’t, you’re likely to insult them. The offering of beverages in Russian culture is a way of expressing friendship, so refusal is another way of telling that person you don’t consider them a pal.

38. A soup stick

For people who aren’t used to them, chopsticks can be pretty intimidating. The idea of using them to consume a broth, though, is downright terrifying. But it’s not as crazy as it initially sounds. In Japan, people use chopsticks for the bigger, solid components of the meal, before drinking the liquid just like any other beverage.

37. Storm in a teacup

The British famously love their tea, so it’s no surprise that there are plenty of customs surrounding the warm beverage. One such rule is that the teaspoon should never come into contact with the cup when you’re stirring. This might seem weird, but it’s an attempt to stop the irritating noise that rings out when a spoon hits a mug.